WARPLANE OUTPUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 5

WARPLANE OUTPUT

. ROYAL AIR FORCE CAPACITY OF FACTORIES CONSIDERABLE INCREASE [from our own correspondent] LONDON. Oct. 20 Further great additions to the British aircraft industry's productive capacity are announced by the Secretary of State for Air. Sir Kingsley Wood, who says his Ministry has upproved the construction of a new factory at Gloucester, to cost more than £1,000.000. It was to be managed by the Gluster Aircraft Company, an important unit in the llawker-Siddoley group. Extensions To the Fairey factory at Stockport would • cost more than £500,000. The latest Gloster design in service with the Royal Air Force is the Gladiator four-gun biplane fighter, a speedy and agile craft. It is fitted for day and night flying, and attains a maximum level speed, with full load on board, of 255 miles an hour.

Single-cngined Battle bombers are in large production at Stockport. These are low-wing monoplanes and are believed to be the fastest single-engincd bombing aircraft yet in general service with any of the world's air forces. Carrying a formidable bomb-load and fuel for 1000 miles, the Battle reaches a maximum level speed of 257 miles an hour. Battle bombers are also on order from the Government air-frame factory managed by the Austin company, and output at a high weekly rate is scheduled to begin soon." Sir Kingsley indicated that productive capacity was being increased in other directions. An extensive system of sub-contracting—under which aircraft and aero engine firms farm out the making of component parts to engineering firms and others, many of whom may not be normally engaged in construction ancillary to the aircraft industry—was being built up. Extension!, of factories and of plant were being put in hand throughout the industry.